Fencing to rise in popularity in China: FIE senior official

Fencing is set to rise further in popularity in China on the back of Chinese athletes' stronger competitiveness in the world stage and an array of high-level tournaments held in the country, noted Emmanuel Katsiadakis, secretary general of the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

Katsiadakis made the remarks in an interview with China Daily on Tuesday in Wuxi, as the 2018 World Fencing Championships takes place in the city in East China’s Jiangsu province.

Fencing saw huge development in China after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, said Katsiadakis. "Thousands of people started to play fencing, to train and to participate in the competitions."

In the 2008 Olympic Games, Chinese sabre fencer Zhong Man claimed gold in the men's individual event, 24 years after the country's last crowning moment in the Los Angeles Games.

Katsiadakis believes that the growth in popularity shall be sustained in the country as "China goes up" in world rankings and more high-profile fencing events take place.

"In China, there were a few high-level tournaments held during the year, including the (ongoing) World Championships in Wuxi, which is very nice."

"I hope this trend can continue and more people get into fencing because if you start fencing, you remain in fencing." the FIE official said.

Fencing is a sport that might be too difficult and technically demanding for the audience to play, he said, but it is a good sport to watch not only for pleasure, but as a great help for people to concentrate.

"It is symbolic that this year's world fencing championships are held in a country with deep-rooted fencing traditions." he noted at the opening ceremony of the championships last Sunday.